Synchronizing mechanism for talking motion pictures



March 21, 1933- A. J. vAssELLl SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM FOR TALKINGMOTION PICTURES Filed May 1e", 1929 5 sheets-sheet 1 l if m vlwalch 2l,1933. A. J. VASSELL] A 1,902,201

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 16, 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR March 21, 1933. A, J., VASSELL! l 1,902,201-

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 16, 1929 5Sheets-Sheef 5 C? {lA- ,LA

MarchZl, 1933. A. J'. vAssELLu 1,902,201

SYNCHRONZING MECHANlISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 16, 19295`Sheets-Sheet 4 iii-'.1

INVENTOF? am ATTORNEY March 21, 1933.

A. J. vAssELLl 1,902,201

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed May 16, 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR is@ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1933 PATENTOFFICE ANTHONY J'. VASSELLI, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY SYNCHRON'IZINGMECHANISM FOR TALKING MOTION PICTURES Application led May 16, 1929.Serial No. 383,418.

This invention relates to devices for synchronizing moving pictureprojecting and sound reproducing mechanisms, and more particularly totypes of sound reproducers in which a disc record is used, eachmechanism being separately driven and operated in unison.

It has been found in practice to be extremely important to actuate therecord carrier enm tirely independent of the projecting machine drive,as it avoids the transmission of sound and vibration from it whichinterferes with the clarity of the record reproduced.

It is also important to have the connection between the two mechanismssuch that there is no driving action at any time from the filmprojecting machine to the record carrying table.

Therefore it is one of the objects of the 2g present invention toprovide a constant drive for the sound reproducing mechanism and acontrollable drive for the picture projecting machine, the machinesbeing connected and having automatic means in the connection to retardor accelerate the picture projecting machine to the extent required tomaintain it in synfhronism with the sound producingmachine in case ofcurrent variation to the motors employed, ory other causes.

A further feature is in the provision of means for adjusting therelation between the picture projector and sound producer to time thepicture and audition in 'positive correspondence, should a diversityoccur, as by shortening the film, occasioned by mending,

or other causes, rendering it out of harmony with the sound record.

These and other advantageous objects are accomplished by the novel,simple and practical construction, arrangement and combination of partshereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,forming an essential portion of this disclo sure. and in which Figure 1is a front elevational view of a conventional picture projecting machineand a sound reproducer connected in accordance w'th the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the projecting machine, looking on line 2*-2of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional, partial bottom plan view of the recordtable drive mechanism, showing the `electrical connections.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 ofFig.'3, showing the drive and adjusting means.

Figure 5 is aperspectve view of the record table and its accouterments.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Figure 7 is a similar sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Figure 8 is a. partial side elevational, partial sectional view of theprojecting machine drive., including the magnetic clutch and control,drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing amodified driving means,

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

A record table stand 15, is shown in Fig. 1 as having levelling screws16 in its base, and a hollow column to receive a screw 17 75 adjustablefor height therein by a nut 18, the screw being fixed at its upper endin a hub 19 extending centrally downward from a generally rectangularcasing 29.

Securely attached over the open top of the casing is a cover 21 having alevel top 22 extending marginally outward beyond the side walls of thecasing and having an opening 23 into which extends the hub 24 of acircular record carrying table 25.

A bracket, generally designated by the numeral .26, is secured in aninverted position to the under side of the cover 22 and is provided withupper and lower bosses 27-28 in which is journalled an upright spindle29, having an anti-friction thrust bearing in the lower bracket, whileits upper portion is fitted to a bore in the table hub 24, which has across slot 24" in its lower end.

A pin 30, fixed transversely in the spindle 29 engages the slot 24',supporting the 'table and transmitting rotary motion to it when thespindle is actuated. The spindle passes through a felt cushion 31 onwhich a disc record 32 may be placed and clamped by a 10G hand 'nut 33engaging the upper threaded portion 29 of the spindle, as best seen inFig. 4.

Fixed to the spindle 29, adjacently below the upper bearing 27, is ahelical gear 34 in mesh with4 a helical pinion 35 secured on ahorizontal shaft 36, one end of which is reduced and journalled in abearing 37 in the bracket 26 while the opposite portion of tho shaft isrevoluble in a sleeve 38 journalled in another bearing 39 'formed on theopposite side of the bracket 26, the sleeve being held from longitudinalmovement in the bearing b-y a gear 40 on its outer end and a fixedcollar 41 on its inner end.

Mounted in the casing 20 is an electric motor 42 having on its shaft 43a grooved pulley 44 driving a belt-45 trained around another similarpulley 46 fixed to a horizontal spindle 47 disposed below and at a rightangle to the shaft 36 and having its bearings 48-49 formed on thebracket 26, as best seen in Fig. 3.

Carried by the spindle 47 are the spring arms of an ordinary centrifugalgovernor 50 adapted to actuate a disc 51 along the spindle, and arrangedto make frictional contact with the disc is one arm of a bell-cranklever 52, pivoted at 53 to the bracket 26 and pressed to frictionallyengage the disc by a screw 54, the stem of which extends outwardlythrough the side wall of the casing 20 and is supplied with a knob 55 bywhich it is conveniently operated in swinging the lever 52, the samebeing normally held away from the disc by a torsion spring 56.

A worm 57 is carried by the spindle 47 to engage a worm wheel 58revolubly mounted on a langed sleeve 59 held by a set screw to the shaft36, and is pressed into normal oper ative engagement with thesleeveflange 59 by a collar 60 on the opposite side, the collar having a partengaging in a slot 36 of the shaft and provided with a compressionspring I61 encircling the shaft and abutting the pinion 35, as best seenin Fig. 4, thus normally driving the shaft but yielding under abnormalconditions, as will later a pear.

Fixedly engaging the shaft 36 a jacently beyond the gear 40 is a spurpinion 65 meshing with a mating gear 66 formed on a sleeve 67 revolublymounted on a headed stud 68 fixed in the side of the gear 40, which isrotatable on the shaft.

Rigid on the sleeve 67 is another gear 69 meshed with a pinion 70,forming part of a sleeve 71 having flanged ends and extending beyond theend of the shaft 36 on which it is rotatably mounted.

Due to the differential gear train it will be seen that the sleeve 71 isdriven at a diii'erent rate of speed from that of shaft 36 to causeacceleration or retardation with respect to the motor and in timedrelation to the picture films, as will later be seen.

The gear train may be advanced or re tarded, to provide for changes inthe film length, as rendered necessary by the omission of one or morepictures in splicing, as

and provided at its outer end with a fixed col lar 77 held outwardly bya spring 78, causing sul'icient friction to prevent rotation of thevspindle except the cross pin 79 in its outer end be engaged by a keywrench for manual operation, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 4.

- Depending from the cover 22 is a lug 22 in l which is ournalled ashaft 80, in direct alinement with the shaft 36, and its inner endenters the sleeve 71, the ends of the two shafts being slightly spacedapart.

A collar` 81 is fixed on the shaft 80 to contact the inner side of thelug 22 and also fixed on this shaft is a flanged sleeve 8,2, whilebetween the adjacent ends of the sleeves 82 and 71 is a spacing collar83.

Mounted on the sleeve 71 is a disc 84 facing towards the collar andhaving an annular hub 84 on its opposite side disposed between the angedends of a cylindrical two part insulator 85 fitted between the flangesof the sleeve 71.

A similar anged insulator 86 is fitted between the flanges of sleeve 82on which is mounted the circular hub 87 of a disc 87, similar butreversed to the disc 84.

Juxtaposed to the face of the disc 87 is a collar 88 having a seat toreceive a plain fiat` 91 set in the disc'87 and extending through asegmental recess in the periphery of the disc 89, the other end of thespring being fixed in a horizontal bar 92 projecting from the disc 89and carrying a contact 93.

Another similar bar 94 is set in the disc 84 and carries a like contact95, these contacts being normally pressed together by the spring 90. Y

Extending downward from the cover 22 is a block 96 carrying a dielectricplate 97 having secured to it in spaced relation vspring contacts 98 and99 engaging respectively the Harige hubs 84 and 87 the purpose andelectrical connections of which will be later described.

As it is conceivable that the bars 92--94 might be turned, by relativemovement of their respective discs 84-89, into a position Where theirbacks might engage rather than ioo the contacts 93-95, an insulated pin100 is set in the disc 84, see Fig. 3, at a spaced distance from the bar94 to permit the bar 92, disposed therebetween, to freely operate withina prescribed limit; l

The moving picture apparatus is carried on a stand 110 having abroadbase and provided with rigid lateral bracket 111 on which is mounted aplatform 112 carrying at one end a conventional type of lamp house 113and at the other end is a projector mechanism casing 114.

Above the casing is a film reel 115 and below the casing is another reel116. Extending from the casing is a spindle, motor driven at a high rateof speed, carrying a revolving shutter 117, the apertures of which movein a path to disclose the pictures on an adjacent film passing from onereel to the other, all these several elements being of the usual andwell known character.

Extending from the side of the stand 110, below the plane of theplatform 112, is another bracket 118 on which is carried a second,narrow platform 12() providing a support for a constant speed electricmotor 121, a bearing 122 and a block bracket 123.

By referring to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the motor shaft 124 is lixedin the hub 125 of a disc 125, the shaft terminating flush with the endof the hub.

'A clutch shaft 126, revolubly mounted in alinement with the motor shaft124, in a bushing fixed in the bearing 122, extends through a bushingset in the block 123 and is provided with an adjustable end thrust by ithe screw 127 in the block.

Fixed on the end portion of the shaft 126, adjacent the motor, is thehub 128 of a heavy cyindrical casing 128 having in its face a recess 129to freely receive therein the disc 125.

An annular, groove is formed in the casing, at the bottom of the recess129 to firmly hold a friction ring 130, such as leather, against whichthe outer face of the disc 125 makes'contact.

The casing is bored to receive the coils of a solenoid 131, encirclingthe inner end of the hub 128 and into which the disc hub 125 entersfreely, there being a space between the two hubs.

The shaft 126 contains an axial passage, open at the end within thecasing hub 128 and extending to a lateral opening 126' between thebearing 122 and block 123, and mounted on the shaft 126, equally spacedfrom the opening 126 are insulating sleeves 132-133 set rigidly inconductor collars 134-135.

Carried by these collars are binding screws engaging insulated wireconductors 136-137 passing through the shaft opening and extendingthrough the bore 126 to connect with the coils of the solenoid 131.

the electrical connections being later de` scribed.

Fixed near the end of the shaft 126, within the block 123 is a helicalgear 145 meshing with a mating gear 146 fixed on a spindle 147 extendingtransversely through the block and having on its inner end a sprocket148 driving a chain 149 trained over another sprocket 150 fixed on aspindle 151 mounted in the lower portion of the projector mechanismcasing 114.

Within the casing 114 are geared connections, not shown, to drive a stubshaft having a universal joint connection 155 with telescopicallyconnected shafts 156 in turn connected by another universal jointconnection 157 with the shaft 80 of the sound reproducing mechanism,thus positively connecting the same with the projecting mechamsm.

Current is received from any convenient source through the cable 160 toa plug 161, the two poles passing through conductors 162-164 to a switch163.

When the switch is closed current will pass through the conductor 165 toone pole of a plug 166 to a cable 167 leading to the projecting machinemotor 121, forming a circuit, the return current passing through aconductor 168 to the switch 163 and thence to conductor 164 to the plug161.

A branch 169 of the conductor 168 leads to one pole of a plug170'attached to a cable 171 leading to a plug 172 having conductors173-174, engaged respectively with the contacts 139-140, return currentpassing through a conductor 175 to an electric lamp bulb 176 and thenceconnect through with the return conductor 181.

l A branch 178 of the conductor 165 leads to one pole of a plug 179having a cable 180 connecting the motor -42 of the sound reproducingmechanism, current returning through branch 181 of conductor 168.

The branch 178 is further continued, as at 182, to the contact 98, disc84, bar 94. and when the contacts 95-93 are in electrical e11- gagement,to bar 92, disc 87, contact 99, to a branch 183 of the return conductor175.

It will now be seen that although the motor 121 may be energize/d andthe disc 125 rotated by it, it will not transmit motion to the shaft 126unless the solenoid 131 be energized to attract the disc and draw itwith suflicient force as to cause rotation of the solenoid casing 128;this condition is attained by passing current through the plug 172 andthe parts in electrical connection with it, and such condition iscontingent upon the circuit passing through the contacts 93-95, which ifseparated cause a break in the line.

The motor 42 runs at a speed somewhat less than the motor 121, and thespeed of the shaft 36 is maintained uniform by the governor 50,

` which it will be noted is adjustable.

' being self adjusting to avoid variation.

In the modified construction of the record table drive, shown in Figures9 and 10, the electric motor is dispensed with` and in its place issubstituted a spring motor, thereby eliminating possible noise from theelectric motor and waiver or distortion of music due to'fluctuation inthe current.

The spring motor is mounted between .two brackets 185-185, extendingdownwardly from the cover plate 22, in which isY fixed a spindle 186enclosed ina sleeve 187 having on its end adjacent the bracket 185, ahubbed gear188 meshed' with a pinion 189 secured to the shaft 80, whichis driven by its connections with the motor 121.

Fixed tothe inner face of the gear.188 is aA flanged casing 190 coveringa flat spirally coiled spring 191, having its outer .coll secured at 192to the interior of the caslng and its innermost coil fixed to the sleeve187 as at 193 in a manner to lcause the sleeve to rotate through theaction of the spring when the shaft 80 is actuated.

A spacing collar 194 on the sleeve 187 separates the casing 190 from asimilar but reversed casing 195 enclosing another like spring 196 fixedto the sleeve at 197 at its inner end and having its outermost coilengaged with the casing at 198, thereby to rotate the casing and a gear199- to which it is secured, the gear meshing with a pinion 200 fixed tothe spindle 36. v

From the foregoing it will be seen that the spring 191 is constantlybeing wound by its connections withthe motor 121,- and that the windingeffect vis transferred to the spring 196 and gear 199 to the pinion 200thereby driving the shaft in synchronism l,with the shaft 8o, althoughyie1ing1y,thus

Y, l maintaining the contacts carried by the bars 92-94 in electricalengagement under normal conditions..Y

Thus the shaft 36 becomes the driver of the spindle 29 and overnor 50,whereas 1n the previously described embodiment the governor shaft wasthe driver.

The governor in the spring motor driving arrangement is controlled bythe same elements, although differently positioned as will be seen, andin addition the governor disc 51 has its periphery used as a frictioncontrol.

Extending through the side 21 of the cover plate is a lever 205 providedwith a manual actuating knob 206, adjacent to which is a guide clip207.l

The lever is pivoted on a stud 208 set in the under side of thecoverplate 22 and beyond the pivot a bent arm 209 is secured to the lever,the outer endv of the arm carrying a friction pad 210, as leather,engageable with the vperiphery of the governor disc 51 and by which itsrotation may be stopped upon actuation of the lever.

On the outer edge of the lever 205 is a raised elongated lug 211,carrying an insulator 212 having on its outer surface a buss bar 213,adapted to form an electric circuit through a pair of contacts 214-215carried on an insulated support 216 mounted on the cover plate 22 andprovided with conductors 217 218 in the circuit 165-175 controlled bythe switch 163, so that the circuit is closed by the lever at which timethe governor is free to operate.

It will now be seen that the friction slip drive connection to the wormwheel'58 is very essential, when the complete apparatus Ais brought to astop, for the reason that the solenoid casing 128 acts in the manner ofa fly-wheel, causing'the projecting machine to continue its rotationsfor a few seconds.

When the` first projecting machine is in operation showing the rst partof a picture, a second projector is prepared by the operator and whenthe first machine is very close to the end of the film, the second isstarted so that there will be no interruption on the program.

Iio

As ch-anges of construction could be made within the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustra.- tive and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. The combination with a' picture projec tor, a record carrier and asource of electrical energy, of a constant speed motor having a shaftcarrying a disc, a second shaft lalined with the motor shaft, saidsecond shaft being A connected to the projector, a head on the second'shaft in which said disc is engageable, a solenoid in said head toattract said disc in the manner of a friction clutch, a separate motorfor the carrier, `a shaft having two alined independent sections, one ofthe sections being driven by said separate motor land having gearedconnection with the carrier, the other section being connected with saidprojector, insulated discs on the adjacent ends of the shaft sections,and opposed contacts carried by said discs, said contacts when inengagement completing a circuit to said solenoid whereby said disc andhead are clutched as a unit during the time of engagement of thecontacts and said projector and carrier are actuated in synchronism.

2. The combination with a picture projector, a record carrier and asource of electrical energy, of a constant speed motor having gearedconnections with said proj ectora magnetic clutch in said connections,an adjustable speed motor having driving connections with said carrier,said connections including a two part sectional shaft, said shaftconnecting said projector and carrier, insulated contacts carried by theadjacent ends of said shaft, said contacts when in electrical engagementclosing the circuit to said magnetic clutch, and means to limittheseparation of said contacts.

3. The combination with a picture projector, a record carrier and asource of electrical energy, of a constant speed motor having gearedconnections with said projector, a magnetic clutch in said connections,an adjustable speed mlotor having driving connections with said carrier,said connections including a two part sectional shaft, said shaftconnecting said projector and carrier, insulated contacts carried by theadjacent ends of said shaft, said contacts when in electrical engagement"closing the circuit to said magnetic clutch, and means for' adjustingone of said contacts relative to the other without changing the speed ofeither of the shaft sections.

4. The combination with a picture projector, a record carrier and asource of electrical energy, ofa constant speed motor having gearedconnections with said projector, a magnetic clutch in said connections,an adjustable speed motor having driving connections with said carrier,said connections including a two part sectional shaft, said shaftconnecting said projector and carrier, insulated contacts carried by theadjacent ends of said shaft, said contacts when in electrical engagementclosing the circuit to said magnetic clutch, and resilient means tonormally maintain said contacts in engagement.

5. The combination with a picture projector, a record carrier and asource of electrical energy, of a constant speed motor having gearedconnections with said projector, a magnetic clutch in said connections,an adjustable speed motor having driving connections with said carrier,said connections including' a two part sect1onal shaft, said shaftconnecting said projector and carrier, insulated contacts carried by theadjacent ends of said shaft, said contacts when in electrical engagementclosing the circuit to said magnetic clutch, and a shaft connecting theouter end of said sectional shaft with the driving mechanism of saidprojector.

6. The combination with a moving picture projector, a disc recordcarrier and a source of electrical energy, of independent motor drivesfor the projector and carrier, a synchronizing connection between saidmotor drives, yielding means in said connection whereby a limitedrelative movement between said drives may occur, and means fof adjustingthe relative rotary positions of said drives. l

7 The combination with a moving picture projector and sound recordcarrier, each having an independent drive means, of a clutch forconnecting said projector to its driving means, means controlled by thedrive means of said carrier for engaging the clutch, a yieldingconnection between the projector and the carrier drive means, and meanspermitting the over action of the projector and carrier irrespective ofthe movement of the carrier drive means.

8. The combination with a picture projector and a sound record carrier,of a constant speed electric motor geared to said projector, anadjustable electric motor geared to said carrier, said motor beingnormally of a slower speed than the first motor, means to control thespeed of said adjustable motor, means to compensate for the diiferencein speed of said motors, a magnetic clutch interposed in the drivingconnections of the first named motor, and means actuated by the secondmotor to control said clutch, whereby the projector and carrier areactuated in synchronism.

9. The combination with a moving picture machine and a sound recordmachine, of a constant speed motor to drive the picture machine, 'aseparate motor to drive the record machine, a governor for the recordmachine motor, manual means for modifying the operation of saidgovernor, a rigid shaft having universal joint connections between saidmachines compelling synchronized action, and a yielding elementinterposed in said connections.

' 10. The combination with a moving picture machine and a sound recordmachine, each machine having an independent motor drive, of a shafthaving two alined sections, a yielding clutch connecting the sections,one of said sections driving the picture machine and the other sectiondriving the record machine, and means in said clutch to compel themachines to operate in synchronism.

11. The combination with a moving picture projector and a sound recordcarrier, each having an independent driving motor, of a magnetic clutchto connect said projec- G 1,902,2oi

tor with its motor, a shaft having alined sections, one section beinggeared to the carrier motor, and the other section connected with theprojector discs on the adjacent ends of said sections; and contacts onsaid discs for controlling said clutch.

12. The combination with a picture projector and a sound record carrier,of a constant speed motor geared to'said projector, a second motorgeared to said carrier, a governor controlling the speed of said secondmotor, a sectional shaft in the connections between the second motor andcarrier, said shaft also connecting with the projector, electricycontacts carried by each of the sections of said shaft, a magneticclutchin the connections between the constant speed motor and projector, saidclutch being in circuit with said contacts, and means for varying theaction of said governor.

13. The combination with a picture projector and a soundrecord carrier,of a constant speed electric motor geared to said projector, anadjustable electric motor geared to saidr carrier, said motor beingnormally of slower speed than the iirst motor, means to control thespeed of said adjustable motor, said meansincluding a governor, a discon said governor, a brake frictionally impinging on said disc, manualmeans to actuate said brake, magnetic means to actuate the brake, andmeans to compensate for the difference in speeds of said motors.

,In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

e ANTHONYJ. vAssELLL

